How breastfeeding protects against allergies

I think this concept is really cool. I think it is interesting that allergies are more common today than ever before. According to an article by New Beginnings, this has a lot to do with the higher rate of exposure for infants to known allergens. The earlier and more exposure a child has to an allergen, the higher chances of it becoming an allergy for this child later on. So for instance, formulas are based from cow’s milk and soy products. Less exposure to these foods means a reduced risk for developing an allergy to them later. This article also states, the other reason breastfed babies have fewer allergies has to do with the development of their immune system. A mother’s milk contains a lot of antibodies that help an infant develop a stronger immune system. So, at about six weeks the child starts to build immunoglobulins or antibodies in their intestines. Then at six months of age the child’s immune system is capable of producing secretory immunoglobulin A, the antibody that protects us from foreign substances we ingest. Colostrum, the first milk, contains a lot of antibodies including immunoglobulin A, which protects the baby’s intestines from potential allergens. Mature milk, the second milk, continues to help the baby remain allergy-free.

What are the challenges of breastfeeding?

In my first post I discussed the benefits of breastfeeding. Now I would like to take the time to discuss the challenges that go along with breastfeeding. Mother’s have a choice on whether to breastfeed or not. While there are numerous advantages to breastfeeding, there are disadvantages that a mother may find will outweigh the advantages. Mother’s will often time feel guilty if they were not successful at breastfeeding. I feel for those mother’s because no one wants to feel judged on whether they breastfeed or not or whether that makes them a bad mother. It does not make a woman a bad mother and formula does supply an adequate amount of nutrition for an infant. My decision to create this blog was based on the point of knowledge. Because of my field in Dietetics I study the importance of nutrition at all stages of life. Human milk provides an ample amount of nutrition and so much more for a baby and the mother. I think it is important for new mother’s to be informed and aware. After that than a mother can choose what is best for herself and her baby.

Below I have listed the disadvantages mother’s find with breastfeeding.
• A mother must be available every 2 to 3 hours, in the first few weeks, to breastfeed her baby. Some women choose to pump and store, but again that also is very time consuming.
• Bottle fed babies do not need to eat as much as breastfed babies because formula makes them feel fuller for longer periods.
• Bottle feeding makes it easier for a mother to see how much her baby is eating.
• A mother has to be aware of what she eats, drinks, and the types of medications she takes because they may enter the babies system through her milk.
• Breastfeeding can lead to nipple pain, infection, and leaky breasts which may inhibit her everyday life.

What worries you most about breastfeeding?

When I ask young women who have never breastfed before what concerns they may have about breastfeeding, the most common remark I hear is “I am afraid it will hurt.” I, too, have never breastfed and I am absolutely concerned about the pain that it will cause. Some of the adjectives that I hear most from mothers in regards to their nipple pain is cracking, bleeding, very tender, itching, and burning. Those words are a little scary. I decided to make this post about causes and treatments to nipple pain. Maybe if we understand early on what causes nipple pain it will reduce our fear? I said maybe!

According to an article from LEAVEN, the most frequent causes of nipple pain are incorrect positioning at the breast and suction trauma. Let’s face it, our nipples have never had so much tugging and pulling on them before, so it probably does take a while to get used to the suction. If the baby is positioned correctly then the tenderness will diminish once the milk lets down, and eventually disappears completely.

Nipple pain that increases or lasts beyond the first week could be a warning that something else is wrong. Some other causes of nipple pain include a retracted or improperly positioned tongue, strong clenching response, nipple confusion, engorgement, and improper breast pump use.

The lasting trouble is the reaction that may appear due to traumatized nipples, such as the nipples become infected with bacteria or yeast which prolong the pain even after all of the causes are fixed.

So this brings us to remedies. What remedies are out there to put an end to this pain? Well, the remedy I found to be the biggest surprise is human milk. Bathing a cracked nipple with expressed human milk may aid in the healing and offer antibacterial protection. The only time that a mother should not use her own milk for healing purposes is if she has a yeast infection in her nipple because yeast thrives in milk. For that purpose, the mother should rinse her nipples with plain water to remove the milk after feedings. In all other cases, human milk along with proper positioning, are the remedy’s of choice in much of the world.

According to this article from LEAVEN, most commercial preparations sold for the treatment of sore nipples are not useful and in some cases may cause the pain to get worse.


Reference
Martin, J. Nipple Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Remedies. LEAVEN, Vol. 36 No. 1, February – March 2000, pp. 10-11.

The Composition of Human Milk

I find it fascinating that human milk contains all the nutrients needed for an infant, exclusively, for the first 6 months of their lives. So what is the composition for human milk and what are its nutritional benefits?

Contents Mature Milk (produced 2 weeks after infant birth)
Calories (kcal) 67
Fat (g) 4.2
Lactose (g) 7.0
Total Protein (g) 1.1
Calcium (mg) 30
Sodium (mg) 15
Vitamin A (µg) 75
Vitamin B1 (µg) 14
Vitamin B2 (µg) 40
Vitamin C (µg) 5

(Source: Food and Nutrition Bulletin. The United Nations University Press, Vol. 17, No. 4, December 1996.)

Nutritional Benefits:
• Companies that make Human Milk Substitutes (HMS), use breast milk as the standard
• The balance of nutrients in human milk matches the needs of the infant for growth and development; no other animal milk or HMS meets the needs as well
• The low protein content in human milk compared to cow’s milk meets the infants needs without overloading their little kidney’s with nitrogen
• Whey protein in human milk forms a soft, easily digestible curd
• Human milk provides quality amounts of lipids in the essential fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, medium-chain-triglycerides, and cholesterol
• Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially DHA, which promotes optimal development of the central nervous system, are present in human milk and are present in only some of the HMS marketed in the United States.

(Source: Brown, JE. Nutrition through the Life Cycle. Thomson/Wadsworth, 3rd Ed. 2008.)

A father’s relationship with breastfeeding

When we think of the parties involved in breastfeeding we naturally think about a mother and her baby. What we fail to realize is the father figure hidden in the picture. I think that the concept of father’s and their role in breastfeeding is a disclosed topic that needs to be brought to the forefront.

It is evident, through my research that the support from a father in regards to his partner breastfeeding their child is crucial for the mother to effectively continue to breastfeed. If the father negatively views the special bond between his wife and child, then the mother may feel guilty or hesitant to continue breastfeeding. Negative attitudes from the father may stem from jealousy or embarrassment. What is important for the father to realize is that the more knowledge he has about the benefits of breastfeeding and through the search for a special bond with his child, it may help him to support breastfeeding.

I chose to ask some father’s of all ages close to me about their views or concerns about their wife breastfeeding their children. Below are a few of their messages.

1 - “I grew up in a time when breastfeeding was out of vogue it was something that was uncomfortable to be around and the person doing it was out of the norm.

When my wife chose to breast feed I was totally supportive and it was a special moment and thing to watch. It appeared to be a different bond with her and the kids than what I observed with mothers who bottle fed. I was always comfortable around her breast feeding. It also allowed me to get more sleep. However, when she breast fed in front of other men, which she seldom did, but on occasion they might have accidentally walked in on her, I became more self conscious. I probably had the male instinct to try to protect what was “mine” and “sacred” and therefore became more tense and distracted. My reaction is probably a sign of the times and of my upbringing and of my generation.

With my daughters and daughter-in-laws, I am very proud that they are breast feeding. I believe breast feeding has a very positive impact on the nurturing of children as well as the family unit.

In conclusion, I am very supportive of women breast feeding their children. Our children and grandchildren are excellent examples of well rounded healthy individuals who greatly benefited from it. Although I have been around it all my life it still has a stigma that could possibly be erased by just talking about feelings and behaviors and how to handle them when breast feeding occurs in the presence of family members, friends, and their spouses.”

2 - “As a new father of a five month old son, I'm seeing breastfeeding first hand. I am a big supporter of breastfeeding. First, it's the most natural way of feeding a baby. It took some adjustment for my wife at first, but we had nurses, lactation consultants, relatives, friends, and books to help her out. It was also important for me to be very supportive as well since there are some side effects of breastfeeding. It's remarkably easy, from my perspective. No mixing formula, heating formula, and cleaning bottles. Plus, he can be feed literally anywhere (with a hooter hider). I also think it promotes a remarkable bond between the mother and baby (that I feel like I miss out on). When he was first born, he seemed so "at home" when he was breastfeeding since he was close to his mother (like he was inutero). To this day, our son hasn't had a drop of formula and we're both very happy.

One very minor downside is that my son loves breastfeeding so much that substitutes are a challenge. My wife stayed at home for roughly the first three months, but now working a part-time job. That being said, I've had to learn how to feed Isaac out of a bottle with breast-milk. He definitely doesn't like the bottle at times and has cried at me for up to 2 hours when he's hungry, but doesn't want the bottle. But, we've eventually figured it out.

Another small downside is that as a father you feel like you're missing out to some extent. I've enjoyed the opportunity to bottle feed him when my wife is working, running errands or out with friends. However, my wife and I have found ways for me to have special time with him. I give him his baths each night and also give him a massage. Once I'm done, it's my wife's turn to feed him and put him down.”

3 – “I absolutely supported my wife in breastfeeding the kids since I knew it was a healthier option and I believed it was best for our kids.

Based on this, I support all mothers who breastfeed.

To me, if breastfeeding is done in a discreet manner, then it's absolutely fine. In almost all situations it seems to me that mothers can find some element of privacy and I respect that.”

4 – “I have seen literature stating breast feeding is far superior to bottle, so I’m an advocate of it. Our first two kids are quite bright and do well in school, sports and social activities, so I can’t help but think that may be partly because of breast feeding. Most importantly, my wife is willing to commit to the task, which is VERY important and I respect her decision. Finally, I’ve also witnessed the close bond she has with our babies during feedings. I had the opportunity to bottle feed the youngest just a little (I don’t think the other two would take a bottle), and it’s quite amazing. She plays with my fingers and looks into my eyes when she’s on the bottle. It’s quite fun.”

In conclusion, what I think is really important is for the father to know that his views and his role in breastfeeding has a really big impact, not only in his relationship with his wife and child but on the family as a whole.

Please read the following article on this topic, I think it does a really nice job of explaining the significance of a father and his relationship to breastfeeding.
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBMarApr09p28.html

The following question was asked on my blog. I would like to take this time to answer it.

Renee - What about if the person is Type II diabetic?? Does having this disease still have the same benefits?? Are there other risks involved??

Because type 2 diabetes has become more prevalent, there is a rising concern for these mothers’s in relation to breastfeeding their infant’s. Individuals with type 2 diabetes can absolutely breastfeed. It is highly recommended that these mothers’s do breastfeed provided they monitor their own diet and lifestyle. Some mother’s find that their insulin requirement is reduced during lactation. I am sure that individuals with type 2 diabetes feel overwhelmed with their own restrictions that the concern for breastfeeding may be heightened. Breastfeeding is an important part of a woman’s maturation and brings with it enormous benefits for the mother and child, that is no different for a mother with type 2 diabetes. The mother should feel proud to be able to start their child off with the best nutrition out there and fortunately at no cost. Breastfeeding is also associated with a reduction in the likelihood of the child developing type 2 diabetes. So while you are providing you and your baby with the best nutrition possible you are also reducing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes down the road.

I asked six family members and friends the following question to get a little more insight to why a mother truly enjoys breastfeeding.

“Give me one reason why you enjoy breastfeeding?”

Here are their answers:
1.) “It is a special bond with the child. It feels natural and maternal.”
2.) “You don’t have to get up and make a bottle.”
3.) “The bonding and closeness you feel with your baby! You are responsible for keeping this baby alive by your milk!”
4.) “For the feeling of closeness and love you have with your baby.”
5.) “He will often take a break, look at me, smile, and start cooing. It makes me melt. I feel very connected to him in a way that you can’t do with a bottle. It is just him against my skin. There is nothing between us.”
6.) “I am giving my baby the best start in life.”

The reason I chose to ask this question is because there are so many benefits out there to breastfeeding, but in this blog I want to touch on the outlining issues. First, from the answers I received I feel like breastfeeding is more about the bond between a mother and her baby rather than the physical benefits for the mother and baby. We can be told all day long about the physical and psychological benefit to breastfeeding, but the bond is something that is internal and is felt. Our emotions are powerful and fulfilling. For a person, like me, who has never breastfed I like to hear about what really empowers these mother’s on the inside not just the benefits on the outside.

Let’s begin this blog with a basic question that is too often overlooked – “What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother?”

What I have found amazing, through my research, is that breastfeeding is not only extremely beneficial for the baby, but for the mother as well. I never realized that. For me, that realization was a whole new selling point. For those of us who have not had children yet we may be selfishly thinking, “What’s in it for me?” So for those women who have not had to selflessly transition to motherhood yet, understanding breastfeeding as a nutritional prize for the mother may help to seal the deal.

Hormonal Benefits:

•Breastfeeding increases the release of the hormone oxytocin from the mother’s pituitary gland. This hormone stimulates uterine contractions, which prevent or minimize maternal postpartum blood loss, and helps the uterus to return to its nonpregnant size.

Physical Benefits:

•As long as a mother exclusively breastfeeds, the return of her menstruation is delayed. This delay promotes iron conservation, which decreases the risk for iron-deficiency anemia, and provides natural spacing between pregnancies.
•Production of milk will help you lose weight, requiring 200 to 500 calories per day.
•Exclusive breastfeeding for six months or longer is associated with reduced risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. Breastfeeding also reduces the woman’s risk of heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
*Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States

Psychological Benefits:

•Breastfeeding increases self-confidence and facilitates bonding between a mother and her child.



Reference

Brown, J E. Nutrition Through the Life Cycle. Thomson-Wadsworth. 3rd Ed. 2008.

La Leche League International accessed at